MIGRAINE OR CERVICOGENIC HEADACHE?
Headaches have been the most common complaint of civilized people for years together. Many of us will be able to relate to the disability and discomfort experienced from having a headache. The constant pounding, inability to concentrate, sleep and more importantly the severe impact it can have on our day to day activities.
Many of us feel that if we go out in the sun or if we eat something wrong or have had a very stressful day then we are sure of having one nasty headache.
But wait!!! Is this all not a part of ones’ daily lifestyle??? Then why should one be bothered by it all??? It is just because of our failure to understand the cause of our headache.
The actual causes of headaches could vary and can further be categorized as –
More common
- Headache associated with viral illness, infections
- Vascular headache e.g. migraine/cluster headache
- Cervical headache e.g. Referred from joints, muscles and fascia of neck region
- Tension headache or muscle contraction headache
Less common
- Intracranial causes e.g. tumor, hemorrhage, meningitis
- Exercise related headache e.g. footballer’s migraine
- Other causes e.g. drugs, post traumatic, post spinal procedures
Headaches may also be caused due to lack of sleep, dehydration, overexertion, depression anxiety, Stress, hunger, eye strain.
Vascular headaches include Migraine, Cluster headache and Exertional headaches.
It usually begins early in the morning and reaches its peak within 2 hours.
It may last for a few hours and is usually resolved within a day but can recur daily or several times a week.
There may be increased frequency of occurrence in certain seasons.
TODAY WE WILL HIGHLIGHT MORE ON CERVICAL HEADACHES AND DIFFERENTIATE THEM WITH MIGRAINE.
What is CERVICAL/CERVICOGENIC HEADACHE?
This is the term used for headache caused by the abnormalities of the joints, muscles, fascia and neural structures of the neck (cervical) region.
It may be due to damage of the lower part of the skull or compression of the nerves as they pass through the muscles.
Pain may also be referred to the head from active trigger points (knots in the muscles).
Symptoms of cervical headache:
- Constant, steady, dull ache often unilateral (one sided).
- Pulling or gripping feeling or a tight band around the head.
- Headache is usually perceived at the back of the head and is commonly referred to frontal (front of head) temporal (side of head), retro orbital (behind the eyes) areas due to a source at the neck.
- Gradual onset
- Wakes up with headache that improves during the day
- May be present for days, weeks or months
- Often associated with pain and stiffness
- Aggravated by neck or head movements and travelling in bus
- Feeling of light headedness, dizziness, ringing in the ears and nausea
- Impaired concentration, Inability to function, Poor Posture, and stress are important contributing factors.
Headache arising from cervical origin (neck area) have often been misdiagnosed as migraine and patients have been put on migraine medication for years.
A correct diagnosis of cervicogenic headache helps one overcome this disability and one can lead a healthy life.
Yes, you can go out in the sun, have a full active day and can still have no headaches.
Treatment of cervical headache:
Requires correction of abnormalities of joints, muscles and neural structures found on examination as well as correction of precipitating factors such as Postural abnormalities and Emotional stress.
Seeking Physiotherapy helps you to correct the Joint abnormalities through:
- Manipulation/Mobilization of the joints
- Soft tissue release for tight muscle
- Stretching exercises of the tight neck muscles
- Strengthening exercises of the weak neck muscles
- Trigger point treatment
- Postural Training
- Identification and Reduction of Stress
FOR ANY FURTHER QUERIES, PLEASE CONTACT US:
DR DHAIRAV SHAH
(C.O.M.T-AUSTRALIA)
(M.A.—PHILOSOPHY)
(M.I.A.P)
CONSULTING MUSCULOSKELETAL PHYSIOTHERAPIST